Jig



W. G. ROEDER May 11, 1948.

. JIG

Filed July 13, 1945 INVENTOR. Walter G. F eder;

Patented May 11, 1948 JIG Walter G. Roeder,- Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Republic Aviation Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1943, Serial No. 494,554

16, Claims. 1

This invention relates to jigs and other such fixtures.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a jig having the properties of a vise and adapted particularly for grasping relatively long, deep and heav objects, such as spars, beams and the like, to hold same securely and rigidly in place while riveting or performing other shop operations on same.

Another object resides in the provision of a jig having improvements of the character referred to which will nonetheless be relatively simple in construction and manner of operation, yet rugged and durable withal.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, a presently-preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the drawing, but it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are limited in the form of their embodiment only'by the scope of the subjoined claims. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end ele- Vational view of the structure shown in Figure 2, one of the parts being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, with the operating parts in another position, and

Figure 5 is a development of one of the parts.

The reference numerals 8 and 9 designate, respectively, the combined vise-and-support units of the jig, which units are of the same construction and operate in the same manner, Each vise unit comprises a U-shaped part or carrier l6, IT, to the upper ends of which are secured complementary jaws l8, IS, the latter being thus supported in fixed relation with respect to each other. The vertically disposed support-members l and I4; and II, lwhich may be made of pipe materialare in telescopic relation with respect to each other. The members l4 and I5 are movable freely in the members l8 and II, being vertically translatable and rotatable around the vertical axis. The U-shaped parts or carriers l6 and I! are carried by the members l4 and I5 and fixed to the upper end thereof.

Secured to member ll! of unit 8 and to the corresponding member I l of unit 9, are the crosspieces I 2 and i 3, serving to form a rigid structure and to support the units 8 and 9 in fixed relation with respect to each other, and also serving as tool supports and supply troughs. I

The upper edge of each of members l0 and II has a shape, as more clearly shown in Figure 5,

' in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, with thepins 2A and 25 seated in the oppositely disposed notches 26. This lines up the jaws I8 and I9, as shown more clearly in dash lines in Figure 1. The beam, pole, spar or other work-piece 21 is then placed upon the parts It and I1 and between the jaws l8 and I9, as shown in Figure 3. The members I 4 and l 5, and the respective associated jaws l8 and, [9, are now manually rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l, which moves pins 24 and 25 out of the notches 26 and into engagement with the cam surfaces 22 and 23.

With the opposite ends of pin 24 0f the vise unit 8 engaging the respective cam surfaces 22 and 23, the downward force on part It, due merely to the weight of the work-piece, causes member M to drop down further into member Ill. The slope or pitch of the cam surfaces 22 and 23 is designed sufficiently steep to accomplish this gravity-actuated step. The accompanying sliding of the pin 24 downwardly on cam surfaces 22 and 23 automatically imparts further counterclockwise, rotary movement to member I4 about the vertical axis. The jaw I3, accordingly, is retat-ed counter-clockwise about the vertical axis, into the grasping position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, with the free ends of the jaws pressed firmly against, and exerting equal and oppositelydirected forces on, the work-piece 21, The other or companion vise unit 9 and its components II, I 5, ll. i8 and 25, of course, operates simultaneously and in a similar. manner, whereby the work 2'! is grasped and held rigidly for the riveting, welding or other shop work thereon.

By inserting the pins 24 and 25 through other holes, such as 28 in members l4 and I5, provision is made for adjustment of the visas to place the work 21 at any one of a number of diiferent elevations.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that in my improved construction, the member I 4 and part l6 of the vise unit 8, for example, constitute means for supporting the jaws l 8 for movement into and out of the grasping position thereof, and that thereof from parts (6 and i1 and from members l4 and I5. This removes the pressure of pins- 24 and 25 from the cam surfaces 22 and 23, so.=

that the jaws l8 and I9 are free to be rotated clockwise out of the graspingpositibnand'bach to the initial position shown-inFigureii and=in dash lines in Figure 1.

It will be understood that when the members i4, 45 are released from locked engagement with members I0, I 1, etc., by the withdrawalofpins 24-45 either by hand, by a, foot treadle mechanism:.(not: shown) or; otherwise, the parts .2 i-25 will descend by; gravity and: the camaction: will rotwet and clamp the" jaws against: the WOXK- piece. 23; regardless of: the weight-pf: the work piece In: fact;. even in cases: wherethe: wor' piece iStDO::1ight:t0, 0ff itself; force: the descent of the; members Hi; the force of% gravity: alone will be sufficient to operate the cam=locliingstruc+ threes abovez.

Variouswodifications; suclras in'the size, shape andrarrangementpfithefparts, may be made with ontzdepartingifrom thetspirit of myihvcntion', or the: scope. of: the subjoined: claims;

Having-ilthusdisclosed. the inventive concepts amliattileasti one-embodiment of: same, what is claimedlas-new ist:

lzl'lilie combinationwitha support, of a vise membenmountedthereon for both linear and rotary-"movement; meansoffcooperation between said support and isaidi member whereby "the linear movement of the visemembei" causes it to rotate bodilyiin' a plane at rig-htan'gles to the axis of linear movement, and jaws .onthe vise-member: adapteditozbe brought into operative positionsrbyrsaidrotaryfmovement.

lTher-co mbination with a support; of a vise unitimounted thereon'iior linearanddotary movement; relative thereto; cam means on" the support;.meansz:carriedtb o the vise 'unit for cooperatirm withrsaid cam means wherebythe viseunit rotates? uponiits linearl movement-relative to the support; and jaws carriedbysaid vise'unit who brought: into: clamping" engagement with a work piecezby the; rotaaymovement' of the unit afore= saidzl.

3: lh a work-zjig the combination with a plurailityxof clamping units; each comprising a carrier and complementar jaws immovably secured theretoin spaced" relationship, of a support individual to each unit; and means of cooperation'between each supportand the carrier of its coactingclamping unit'to bring the jaws thereof into clamping engagement'with a work piecepositioned bet'ween the' jaws ofall of said units;

4. The combination-with a series of clamping units; eachcomprisinga Vise element and a pair of='spaced, complementary-jaws fixed thereto, of a: support'individual to each clamping unit and aconnection between each unit and its support whereby the vertical movement of the unit relativelytothe'supportalso-rotates iton the longitudinal axis thereofi Ih' a-w0rk jig the combination-with a plurality-:of clamping'units each comprising a U- shapedelement a-ndajaw fixedto the end ofeach 4 arm thereof whereby a work piece may be inserted between the arms of the several units to be clampingly engaged between said jaws, of a telescopic support for each unit whereby the weight of a work piece on the several units simultaneously and correspondingly telescope said supports, and means whereby the telescoping of the several supports as aforesaid causes therunit's to bodily rotate inunisorrto bring'their respective jaws into clamping engagement with opposed faces of the work piece.

6. In a work jig the combination with a plurality of clamping units, each comprising a U- shaped member; transverse, parallel jaws at the ends-of its arms; a cylindrical support projecting outwardly oithe base of said member, a tubular main-supportlrotatably receiving said cylindrical support, opposed cams extending downwardly from=the upper end of the main support, and a transverse pin projecting upon each side of said cylindrical support? to; bear against? said: cams, of connections securing the said main supports one-to the otherrinfixed relative;positions whereby the. weight. of an 2 elongated :workzpiece :placed between thesarms'zoi theseverallU-shapedimenn bers; correspondingly."telescopes the cylindrical supports thereof with the tubular main ,supports in unison and by; thev coaction'. off saidzpi-nsand said cams bodily rotates the: severali Lia-shaped members-also: in =unisonrto: bring :tlie 'j aws of i each into clamping engagementwithcopposed: surfaces of said'iwork piece.-

7. In: a work Ljig: the combination: mum at plurality of clamping units eaclii comprisingia: U- shapedmemb'er, transverse; substantiallyparallel jaws at the ends of its arms, and a, cylindrical support-projecting; outwardly of'the'baserotsaid member, of a-tubular-main supportwfcrrea'ch of said units: in-which .the:cylindrical supportzissreiceived. for axialand. rotary'movement; cam surfaces-at the end of=each tubular-support; aitranstverse pin fixed to:each oylindricalisupportzfor coaction with the cam surfaces-wither cooperating tubular maimsupport, and; connections eseouring the several tubular main'supports: in spacediand fixed relative-positions:

8. The combinationzwith: a series.- zof clamping units, each comprising'ia viseselement andapair of spaced,- complementary*jawsvfixedtithereto; of a support, individual to'each:clampingsunittrelative to. which the unit may' move vertically and also rotate,- and" a" connectiorrbetween each unit and its; support whereby the Vertical movement of? the unit relatively toetlre. support? also' rotates it on the longitudinal: axis thereof:" tot: bring" its jawssinto clamping; engagement *with aworle piece positioned :between the jaws of all 30f Fsaid unitsz- 9; The combination: witlrza: seriesof' clamping units, eachcomprisingta vi'seielement and'a pair of spaced; complementary jaws fixed rthereto; of asupport individual: to' each clamping" unit, means'whereb'yeach' ofisaid 'units may move bod ily alongand'rotate relatively-"to 'th'elongitudinal axis-of its support; and'aconnectiorn between each unit andits supportwhereby the bodily movement of" the unit relatively to tlie-support causes it to rotate to bringits-jaws into clamp ing engagement witlramork-piece positionedbetween the-jawsof all of'said units; said' unit's moving-bodily in unison' under theweight ofth-e workpiece;

10. The combination: with, aseries of" clamp;- ing units, each including=a pairpfrelatively fixed complementary jawa'pf -a support individual :to ea-ch-urfitya mountingfor each unit for rotary and longitudinal movement upon and along the longitudinal axis of its support, means for controlling the movement of each unit relative to its support whereby the movement longitudinally of the axis of support causes it to simultaneously rotate relative thereto, and connections between said supports to fix the relative positions thereof.

11. The clamping unit of a work jig comprising substantially parallel, spaced work engaging jaws, a carrier for said jaws to hold them relatively immovable, a support for said carrier, and means of cooperation between said carrier and said support whereby the carrier may move axially-of the support and thereby be simultaneously rotated.

12. The clamping unit of a work jig comprising spaced work-engaging jaws, a carrier for said jaws retaining them in fixed relative positions, a support relative to which the carrier may move bodily and also rotate, and means whereby the bodily movement of the carrier relative to said support also causes it to rotate.

13. The clamping unit of a work jig comprising spaced work-engaging jaws, a carrier for said jaws retaining them in fixed relative positions, a support upon which the carrier is mounted for both Vertical and rotary movement, and means of cooperation between the support and said carrier whereby the weight of a work piece positioned between the jaws causes the carrier to move vertically relative to the support and simultaneously rotate to move said jaws bodily into clamping engagement with the work piece so positioned.

14. In a work jig the combination with a series of sets of complementary jaws, of means individual to each set of jaws for supporting it for movement from open to work-engaging position, and means whereby the placing of a single work piece between the jaws of the several sets causes their movement in unison to positions engaging said work piece.

15. In a work jig the combination with a series of sets of complementary jaws, of means individual to each set for supporting it for rotary movement from open to work engaging position, and means, individual to each supporting means, whereby the positioning of a single work piece between the jaws of the several sets causes them to rotate in unison to positions clampingly engaging said work piece.

16. A work jig consisting of at least two clamping units each comprising complemental jaws held spaced one from the other suiiiciently to permit the insertion of a work piece therebetween, means associated with each unit to support it in elevated position, and means for rotating the unit about an axis of rotation while being lowered whereby to reduce the effective space be tween the jaws.

WALTER G. ROEDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 148,113 Fifield et a1 Mar. 3, 1874 386,631 Garrison et al July 24, 1888 771,753 Stanley Oct. 4, 1904 848,837 Martz et a1. Apr. 2, 1907 918,816 ,Bartlett Apr. 20, 1909 1,191,687 Gillett July 18, 1916 1,402,232 Job Oct. 22, 1912 1,585,490 Hainsworth May 18, 1926 1,705,582 May Mar. 19, 1929 1,891,127 Wallis Dec. 13, 1932 2,171,910 Blackwood Sept. 5, 1939 2,331,416 Muller, Sr. Oct. 12, 1943 2,337,383 Franz Dec. 21, 1943 

